A really lovely – and practical – initiative comes to fruition in Mount Isa tomorrow (Sunday, December 11).
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As reported on page 2, the It’s In the Bag campaign is run under the auspices of www.sharethedignity.com.au which was founded in response to a Mia Freedman article on Mamamia which exposed how many homeless women and women in domestic violence shelters in Australia did not have access to sanitary products most women take for granted.
The idea was for people to donate old bags and fill them with $20 worth of sanitary products or other items of need which would then be given to women and families in need.
It’s a lovely idea and it was taken up with gusto last year by Sgt Jakki Poustie and others in Mount Isa.
Sgt Poustie has since left town and kudos go to local woman Mel Tribolet for taking up the cudgels to organise the day again for a second year.
The Mount Isa It’s In the Bag campaign has already been up and other with LJ Hooker kindly donating its offices as a drop-off centre during business hours.
Tomorrow the campaign moves to the balcony at the Isa Hotel.
From 3pm Sunday Ms Tribolet and fellow volunteers will be accepting more donations of bags stuffed with goodies.
I would encourage people to support this great initiative.
And if you are a man, or don’t have an old handbag, that doesn’t mean you can’t help out. They will be accepting donations in plastic bags or whatever container you might have to fit them.
Ms Tribolet told me one lady even dropped off products in a pram!
Domestic violence is a scourge on our society and while this campaign doesn’t address the root cause, it is certainly worthwhile nonetheless as it has the capacity to make the lives of the victims of violence ever so slightly better and that is a good thing.
All those who donate will go into a raffle and there will be balloons and bubbles for the kids. Thanks go local businesses which have got behind it and the The North Queensland Domestic Violence Resource Service who will distribute donated bags to local shelters. DB